When you are on a real food diet and healthy lifestyle journey, taking vitamins may not be part of your wellness regimen. As someone who eats a real and wholesome diet, taking multis never crossed my mind. In 2020, my family and I decided it was time to start to take multis as part of our health and wellness regimen for many reasons. For one, to help boost our immune system and support our overall health well-being.
Whether you have been taking vitamins for years or just a newbie seeking which brand to buy, know that not all products are created equal. The majority of supplements on the market are made from synthetic and not so good for you ingredients. If you are on a healthy diet, you may even identify these ingredients being toxic. Some of these ingredients include artificial coloring, artificial flavoring, titanium dioxide, soy lecithin, mono and diglycerides, BHT, maltodextrin, and ascorbic acid.
While it may seem like it's impossible to find a whole, real food-based and non-GMO project verified multivitamins, there are options available for a consumer like me and you.
How To Choose A Quality Supplement
Ingredients:
Buying supplements nowadays can be super confusing and overwhelming. One of the best ways to determine if the supplement is right for you is to read the ingredients. By reading the ingredient list, you will also know exactly what you are putting in your body.
To decide which brand or supplement is right for you, note that there are two types of nutrients: synthetic and natural. Most supplements on the market today are artificially made. Meaning the pill, tablet, capsule, powder, or liquid form is made in a lab and designed to mimic how natural nutrients act in our bodies. Most synthetic vitamins and minerals are not as bioavailable as natural sources. For example, one study found that synthetically created Vitamin E is safe but less effective than naturally occurring vitamin E.
If you are a health-conscious individual, the good news is there are some natural supplements on the market, with Megafood being one of the brands. How do you know if your supplement is natural? Don't let the fancy marketing term "natural" fool you. By reading the ingredients on the back of the bottle, you will know exactly if your supplement is natural or not. A natural supplement will indicate the exact food source the nutrient comes from.
When reading the label, both active and inactive ingredients should be listed. Avoid anything that contains a blend without disclosing what is in it. Remember, quality supplements should be made up of whole food ingredients like kale, oats, apple, orange. Low-quality ones can be full of additives.
Testing: third party testing is not required by food and drug administration, but having third-party testing and certification shows the brand's commitment to producing high-quality products. Some of the popular third-party testings include NSF, USP, ConsumerLab.
Claims: Dietary supplements are not meant to treat, cure or prevent diseases. Watch out for any products that make bold claims.
If you have food allergies and dietary restrictions, check for claims "free-from" information on the label.
Packaging: There are two types of packaging material you can find your supplement pill package in: glass or plastic. Most supplements you find on the market are packaged in plastic bottles. Plastic bottles supplements tend to be cheaper than glass, but glass bottles are much better for the environment and your health. While the downside of using glass bottles is some nutrients are heat sensitive, amber glass does offer the highest level of UV protection. On the other hand, plastic bottles are made from a variety of different chemicals such as BPA and phthalates, which are known endocrine disruptors. With factors like storage environment and time, these chemicals can leach into the stored products, which means you may ingest some of these chemicals along the way.
Who is Megafood?
Megafood is a superior whole food supplement brand that was found in 1973 with one goal in mind: to help improve lives through authentic nourishment. Manufactured in New Hampshire and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pharmavite.
Unlike other brands, Megafood uses Slo-Food™ process for tablets. This means they squish, smush, and smash fresh products. It is then dry, dehydrated, mixed and pressed into tablets. All using technology allows exact points to preserve sensory quality (color, aroma, and taste).
Why Pick Megafood Supplements?
We decided to give Megafood supplements a try because the brand guarantees nine certifications for purity and safety. These certifications include:
Nine Certifications
Certified B Corporation
Being a certified B corporation, you can feel good about supporting the brand because they use business as a force for good™. This means the brand meets the highest standard of overall social, environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
Non-GMO Project Verified
This is an important factor for us because we try to avoid GMOs when possible. GMOs are linked to health and environmental concerns.
Certified Glyphosate Residue-Free
Glyphosate is a commonly used herbicide, and it may also kill microbes in the soil that is essential for growing healthy food. Megafoods' entire product line is certified glyphosate residue-free by Detox Project (independent research and certification organization).
Gluten-Free
NSP gluten-free certified by testing both high-risk raw materials and the final products.
Vegan
If you are a vegan, you can enjoy the Megafood vegan-friendly supplement line. Certified by Vegan Action.
Certified Kosher
Megafood product lines are certified kosher by OK Kosher Certification.
Internal Standards
Aside from the certification programs, Megafood also conducts internal testing including testing for 125+ pesticides and herbicides, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan friendly, and dairy and soy-free.
Packaging
Megafood pills are in an amber glass bottle. Amber glass bottles are not only better for the environment, but it is also better for your health.
Ingredients
What I love about the Megafood ingredient list is that it is super easy to read, and you know exactly the source of the nutrient.
Megafood Review
Now that you know why I love the brand, here are the vitamins we are currently taking. I am taking the Women's multivitamin one a day. My husband is taking the Men's multivitamin. And together, we are both taking Elderberry Immune Support gummies.
We love multivitamins because you can take them any time of the day and even on an empty stomach. While the pill size can be considered big for some, it has no aftertaste nor causes stomach distress.
The Elderberry Immune Support gummies are delicious, and we ate them like our post-meal treats. They are great to take during cold and flu season and as well as allergy season to boost your immune system. Remember, supplement products are not intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.
What products does Megafood carry?
Megafood carries multivitamins for anyone from kids to 55+. Besides multivitamins, Megafood offers other supplements like turmeric, magnesium, probiotics, and more.
Where To Purchase?
You can purchase Megafood supplements directly with the brand or available at most stores such as Amazon, Thrive Market, Walmart, Target. To support the brand, purchase it through their direct website.
